History Main / MookThemedLevel

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[[quoteright:349:[[VideoGame/MarioKart8 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mario_kart_8_mook_levels.png]]]]

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
** ''Videogame/SuperMarioBros1'' has level 4-1, which serves as an introduction to [[TheSpiny Spinies]] and [[MookMaker Lakitu]]. Spinies are slow moving, but immune to the GoombaStomp and can only be dispatched with a fire flower, Super Star or by hitting blocks beneath them, and Lakitu follows you around while hovering mostly out of reach at the top of the screen - patterns you won't have seen from any of the other kinds of mooks.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' has the first two levels, [[GreenHillZone Bob-Omb Battlefield]] and [[FloatingContinent Whomp's Fortress]]. They both feature the titular Bob-Ombs and Whomps as the main enemy types, with appropriate {{King Mook}}s for bosses. The fifth level, BigBoosHaunt, involves fighting Boos (small and big) as a requirement for most of the level's Power Stars. ''VideoGame/SuperMario64DS'' includes worlds that Mario and Wario are trapped in, which center around Goombas and Ice Bullies (Luigi's is more Boos).
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'' (and by extension ''VideoGame/NewSuperLuigiU'') have levels named after mooks, either because they're natural habitats for them or are simply designed around them. Examples include Perilous ''Pokey'' Cave, ''Fire Snake'' Cavern, ''Spike's'' Surrounding Sands, Blooming ''Lakitus'', and ''Piranha Plants'' on Ice. And the ones mentioned are from ''one'' of the worlds (Layer Cake Desert).
** There are a lot of those in ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'': Koopa Troopa[[note]]bipedal turtles[[/note]] [[UndergroundLevel Cave]], Bullet Bill[[note]]living bullet-shaped projectile[[/note]] [[LocomotiveLevel Express]], Ant Trooper[[note]]purple marching ants that walk in line[[/note]] [[DeathMountain Hill]], Piranha Creeper[[note]]a variant of the [[ManEatingPlant Piranha Plant]] that possesses an extendable neck[[/note]] [[BubblegloopSwamp Creek]], Spike's[[note]]a green creature that throws spiky objects as obstacles[[/note]] [[RuinsForRuinsSake Lost City]], among others.

* Commonly done in the original ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' trilogy, particularly the [[VideoGame/CrashBandicoot3Warped third game]], where the level gimmicks are often tied to a newly-introduced enemy type. For example, the three medieval-themed stages featured in the game consist of "Toad Village" (which is overrun by frogs), "Gee Wiz" (introduces wizards that can fire off spells that [[BewitchedAmphibians transform people into frogs]], thus tying them to the previous level) and "Double Header" (this one having two-headed ogres that swing clubs around).
* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland'' mostly consists of this type of level, including the boss ones (since they are simple mooks [[MakeMyMonstergrow enlarged]] by the BigBad Kamek). Those are often represented by a thumbnail picturing the starring mook on the world map. The first world alone has:
** ''Watch Out Below!'': Chain Chomps jump in from the background and make endless pits all over the place
** ''Shy Guys on Stilts'': ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. It's a level filled with Shy Guy enemies walking on stilts.
** ''Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy'': the level is filled with puffs that cause major InterfaceScrew.

* ''VideoGame/BlasterMasterZero'': Area 7 introduces a ridiculously powerful mook as its main gimmick. If the player is spotted by it, it will viciously attack them while sending every other sentry in the room into a frenzy.

* ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'':
** ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyIVLegendsOfTheTitan'': Two [[MiniDungeon mini-dungeons]] in the game are tailored for, and thus named after, the F.O.E. that inhabit them: The Moth's Garden in Scarlet Pillars (inhabited by Moth Lords) and The Golden Deer Keep (self-explanatory).
** ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyNexus'': There's the Seditious Colony, where the only mooks present are Ants of different breeds, as well as ant-based F.O.E. and the Ant Queen as the boss.
* ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'':
** The first actual level of the game, Goomba Road, only features TheGoomba and some of its variants as enemies, including the MiniBoss and KingMook at the end.
** Most of Chapter 4 takes place in the Shy Guy's Toy Box, where all enemies are Shy Guys and various subspecies like the Spy Guy or the Groove Guy, and the boss is a Shy Guy riding a tank called General Guy. The only exceptions are the mini-boss holding a new partner and some optional encounters depending on how the player answered Bowser's questions pre-chapter.

* Both ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' and its sequel have levels centered around the Stehoney enemy, which flees from the player and must be defeated before it reaches a certain space on the map.

* ''VideoGame/RedFaction'' has the merc base, filled with [[PrivateMilitaryContractors mercenaries]], though a few ceiling turrets are present.

* ''VideoGame/UnrealI'' has the Terraniux levels, where the only enemies [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] may find are Mercenaries and [[EliteMook Elite Mercenaries]] (though there are some Slith). Then there's the Mothership levels, filled with nothing but Skaarj of all types.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
** ''VideoGame/Halo2'': The High Charity levels. Being the Covenant capital city, you fight lots of Covenant (who happen to be in an EnemyCivilWar). That is, until the Flood arrive.
** ''VideoGame/Halo3'': The level "Cortana" has you inside of High Charity, which has been drastically changed by the Flood, who you fight exclusively.
** ''VideoGame/Halo4'': The final mission "Midnight" takes place inside the Didact's ship, where you fight nothing but Prometheans.

* ''VideoGame/Pikmin2'': Some caves are themed around the native creatures that inhabit them, and base their names (either directly or indirectly) on them: Bulblax Kingdom (the Bulborbs and the KingMook Emperor Bulblax), Snagret Hole (the Burrowing Snagrets and the KingMook Pileated Snagret), and Glutton's Kitchen (the Breadbugs, insect-like creatures resembling an actual piece of bread, and their KingMook Giant Breadbug). The Hole of Heroes, while not an example as a whole, has two sublevels -- level 9, home to one of every kind of non-boss Bulborb in the game and several specimens of each dwarf variety, and level 14, home to several specimens of each Dweevil variety outside of the explosive Volatile Weevils and to the also spider-like Beady Long Legs as a boss.

* ''VideoGame/Pikmin2'': Some caves are themed around the native creatures that inhabit them, and base their names (either directly or indirectly) on them: Bulblax Kingdom (the Bulborbs and the KingMook Emperor Bulblax), Snagret Hole (the Burrowing Snagrets and the KingMook Pileated Snagret), and Glutton's Kitchen (the Breadbugs, insect-like creatures resembling an actual piece of bread, and their KingMook Giant Breadbug).

[[/folder]]

** ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyIV'': Two [[MiniDungeon mini-dungeons]] in the game are tailored for, and thus named after, the F.O.E. that inhabit them: The Moth's Garden in Scarlet Pillars (inhabited by Moth Lords) and The Golden Deer Keep (self-explanatory).

* Two [[MiniDungeon mini-dungeons]] in ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey IV'' are tailored for, and thus named after, the F.O.E. that inhabit them: The Moth's Garden in Scarlet Pillars (inhabited by Moth Lords) and The Golden Deer Keep (self-explanatory). In ''Etrian Odyssey Nexus'', there's the Seditious Colony, where the only mooks present are Ants of different breeds, as well as ant-based F.O.E. and the Ant Queen as the boss.

** Most of Chapter 4 takes place in the Shy Guy's Toy Box, where all enemies are Shy Guys and various subspecies like the Spy Guy or the Groovy Guy, and the boss is a Shy Guy riding a tank called General Guy. The only exceptions are the mini-boss holding a new partner and some optional encounters depending on how the player answered Bowser's questions pre-chapter.

* ''Franchise/Halo'':

** The Dodongo's Cavern from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', featuring Baby Dodongos, regular Dodongos and the [[KingMook King Dodongo]].

* ''VideoGame/UnrealI'' has the Terraniux levels, where the only enemies [[PlayerCharacter Prisoner 849]] may find are Mercenaries and [[EliteMook Elite Mercenaries]].

* Some caves in ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} 2'' are themed around the native creatures that inhabit them, and base their names (either directly or indirectly) on them: Bulblax Kingdom (the Bulborbs and the KingMook Emperor Bulblax), Snagret Hole (the Burrowing Snagrets and the KingMook Pileated Snagret), and Glutton's Kitchen (the Breadbugs, insect-like creatures resembling an actual piece of bread, and their KingMook Giant Breadbug).

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/MarioKart8 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mario_kart_8_mook_levels.png]]]]

** VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass and VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks have the Temple of the Ocean King and the Tower of Spirits, respectively. Both dungeons are populated by Phantoms, invincible foes that relentlessly chase Link if they spot him.

** ''Videogame/SuperMarioBros1'' has level 4-1, which serves as an introduction to [[TheSpiny Spinies]] and [[MookMaker Lakitu]]. Spinies are slow moving, but immune to the GoombaStomp and can only be dispatched with a fire flower or by hitting blocks beneath them, and Lakitu follows you around while hovering mostly out of reach at the top of the screen - patterns you won't have seen from any of the other kinds of mooks.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' has the first two levels, [[GreenHillZone Bob-Omb Battlefield]] and [[FloatingContinent Whomp's Fortress]]. They both feature the titular Bob-Ombs and Whomps as the main enemy types, with appropriate {{King Mook}}s for bosses. BigBoosHaunt may also count, since fighting Boos (small and big) is a requirement for most of the level's Power Stars. ''VideoGame/SuperMario64DS'' included worlds that Mario and Wario were trapped in, which centered around Goombas and Ice Bullies (Luigi's was more Boos).

** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'' (and by extension ''VideoGame/NewSuperLuigiU'') have levels named after mooks, either because they're natural habitats for them or are simply designed around them. Examples include Perilous ''Pokey'' Cave, ''Fire Snake'' Cavern, ''Spike's'' Surrounding Sands, Blooming ''Lakitus'', and ''Piranha Plants'' on Ice. And the ones mentioned are from ''one'' of the worlds (Layer Cake Desert).

* Commonly done in the original ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' trilogy, particularly the [[VideoGame/CrashBandicoot3Warped third game]], where the level gimmicks were often tied to a newly-introduced enemy type. For example, the three medieval-themed stages featured in the game consist of "Toad Village" (which is overrun by frogs), "Gee Wiz" (introduces wizards that can fire off spells that [[BewitchedAmphibians transform people into frogs]], thus tying them to the previous level) and "Double Header" (this one having two-headed ogres that swing clubs around).

* ''VideoGame/UnrealIITheAwakening'':
** Planet [=NC962VII=] is the homeworld of [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens the Drakk]], and as such it contains AlienGeometries and advanced tech buildings.

* VideoGame/BlasterMasterZero: Area 7 introduces a ridiculously powerful mook as its main gimmick. If the player is spotted by it, it will viciously attack them while sending every other sentry in the room into a frenzy.

* Franchise/{{Pokemon}}

* VideoGame/StarcraftII:
** VideoGame/WingsOfLiberty: Every mission unlocks a new unit type and is tailor-made to showcase that unit's strengths. Such as the Reaper being given on a level with lots of cliffs, or the Diamondback on a level that involves pursuing moving targets...
** VideoGame/HeartOfTheSwarm: Abathur missions consist of using specialized Zerg organisms in scenarios where that specialization becomes a GameBreaker, such as jumping Banelings that can traverse cliffs or Ultralisks that resurrect when killed.

A video game level that highlights a specific enemy type as (usually) the main obstacle for the player to overcome.

* ''VideoGame/QuakeII'': The ExpansionPack ''The Reckoning'' has a level called "Badlands", where the most common enemy is the savage (though weak) abomination Gekk. The level itself is a bunch of decaying natural structures in a zone full of earthquakes.

* Both ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' and its sequel have levels centered around the Stehoney enemy, which flees from the player and must be defeated before it reaches a certain space on the map.

** The Diglett's Cave in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. Its solely inhabited by Diglett and its evolved form (Dugtrio). ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' has a small nod to that location with the Diglett's Tunnel, which has Alolan Diglett instead (they're, however, rarer than the infamous cave-infesting Zubats).

** Most of Chapter 4 takes place in the Shy Guy's Toy Box, where all enemies are Shy Guys and various subspecies like the Spy Guy or the Groovy Guy, and the boss is a Shy Guy riding a tank called General Guy. The only exceptions are optional, depending on how the player answered Bowser's questions pre-chapter.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' has the Yiga Clan Hideout, where Link must sneak past several rooms patrolled by powerful Yiga soldiers -- the only enemies in this area -- dropping bananas on the floor to lure them out of their patrol routes so that he can move past them, and eventually comes face-to-face with Master Kohga, the leader of the Yiga Clan and the Hideout's boss.

** Most of Chapter 4 takes place in the Shy Guy's Toy Box, where all enemies are Shy Guys and various subspecies like the Spy Guy or the Groovy Guy. The only exceptions are optional, depending on how the player answered Bowser's questions pre-chapter.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' has two "Spider House" side dungeons that do feature 30 Gold Skulltulas (a tarantula-like enemy) each as the main enemy to kill.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' has the first two levels, [[GreenHillZone Bob-Omb Battlefield]] and [[FloatingContinent Whomp's Fortress]]. They both feature the titular Bob-Ombs and Whomps as the main enemy types, with appropriate {{King Mook}}s for bosses. BigBoosHaunt may also count, since fighting Boos (small and big) is a requirement for most of the level's Power Stars.

[[folder: Racing Games]]

This naturally means that the place is either crawling with them or that they are powerful enough to deserve your attention. The {{Mooks}} in question are likely to be the level's namesake as well (or maybe the level refers to them through a more generic, yet fitting term), but the only real requirement is for the whole concept of the stage to revolve around their overwhelming presence or whatever unique gameplay aspect they end up introducing.